Ted Williams has problems, and people are surprised?

Why is it that whenever some random nobody gets suddenly thrown into the spotlight, followed by cameras 24 hours a day, the world is shocked, shocked, when they start to act like… flawed human beings?

The Ted Williams story is driving me goddamn bonkers because we’re talking about a homeless guy with a substance abuse problem. Becoming famous isn’t going to suddenly eradicate whatever issues he has to work out in his life. If anything, having his entire life suddenly thrust in the spotlight will make it harder for him.

I swear I’m one of the few people that hardly gives a damn about people’s mistakes and fuck-ups. We’re okay when close friends and relatives get the occasional DUI and what have you, why is it that famous people are expected to be perfect?

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5 responses to “Ted Williams has problems, and people are surprised?”

I think ppl were surprised/shocked because the guy claimed to have been sober for two years. Of course, “sober” means different things to different ppl, but I don’t think “sober” ever means drinking every day.

Would you be “okay” with yourself if you got a DUI or “what have you”? I wouldn’t. I wonder how much extra slack I should cut anyone who would.

In the real world, well-adjusted, responsible, functioning adults are not homeless. Substance abuse, alcoholism, mental problems go hand-in-hand with being homeless. I’d have been shocked if he didn’t have such baggage. He’s not on the street because he lost his job, and it’s going to take a lot more than a job offer to fix him up.

I’m cheering for this guy, but the odds are against him. All these people willing to give him gigs and housing — I wonder if any of them are willing to foot the bill for a stint in rehab…

“And, in the real world, a quarter to a third of homeless Americans are Veterans.”

Meaning that two-thirds to three quarters (a fairly vast majority) are NOT. And even that’s only significant to the extent that it differs from the general population, which also has a lot of vets. And what if people who are destined to be homeless entirely on their own are disproportionately predisposed to joining the military, simply to secure housing they can’t reliably provide for themselves?